The crew of a fishing boat from Quảng Nam who were rescued by Đà Nẵng border security forces on Saturday night. Their boat was hit by an unidentified cargo ship near the Tiên Sa Port in Đà Nẵng. VNS Photo Đông Nguyễn

ĐÀ NẴNG — Authorities are investigating a Saturday night collision between a cargo ship and a fishing boat just one kilometre off Tiên Sa Port.

Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyễn Thành Đính, commander of the Đà Nẵng border security force, told Việt Nam News yesterday that the fishing vessel (QNa 09191 TS) from Quảng Nam, was heading to the Thọ Quang fishing port when it was hit by a big cargo ship in the sea off the Tiên Sa Port around 9pm on Saturday, April 8.

“The collision caused the fishing vessel to capsize and sink. Three fishermen were rescued by another fishing ship and two speedboats of the Đà Nẵng border security force that rushed to the spot soon after receiving an SOS. One fisherman swam to the port by himself,” Đính said.

He said all fishermen were in good heath after the accident.

Đính said a joint investigation team of the border security force, port authorities, traffic police and shipping agents have been researching trips of all ships docking and arriving at the the Tiên Sa port.

Captain of the fishing ship, Nguyễn Hữu Mười, 50, said a big ship hit his boat on the front right flank, and it sank in just five minutes.

“We called out for help, but the ship, which we could not identify, did not bother to save us. I called another fishing boat near us for help before jumping into the water.

“Two of my crew and I were saved by the fishing boat and speedboats from the Đà Nẵng border guards,” Mười said.

Another crew member, Phan Thanh Phụng, swam for an hour and reached the Tiên Sa Port.

The port receives more than 1,700 ship each year, and at least 800 boats dock at the Thọ Quang fishing port.

Three tourists died in 2015 after a cruise ship capsized in the Hàn River. The same year, a fishing vessel with 10 men from Quảng Ngãi Province was rescued after they were hit by an identified ship. — VNS